I'm converted

Okay, after reading DensterNYs post about having problems in the battles, and having (for the ten-thousandth time) an enemy general impale himself on my pikes in RTR...I decided to give MTW a shot.

My old laptop was just barely under minimum specs (stupid laptop vid cards) so I had to wait until this computer (purchased for RTW). Anyway, I start playing...

And I must say, I think this game is superior. No more a-historical 5 full army stacks so you can smash everyone on every front (I'd love to see a 220 BC empire do THAT). I've actually got to manage my monies.

But best of all, I actually lost a battle! I was amazed! I don't lose in RTW to the AI (not to brag, but the AI is just bad). Now I have to play give and take with the Seljuks and Fatmids while praying I can hold onto Naples and trying to get Hungary and Poland to play nice so I can move all my troops (since I don't have the money to support many big armies) over to the East.

I love it!

Sure, MTW does not look as good as RTW, but then, it doesn't have to. I figure RTW is like the (just flat dumb) sorority girls on campus. Nice to look at, maybe fun for a while, but eventually, the lack of activity upstairs drowns out looks. MTW is more like the girls in my major. Maybe not so good looking, but certainly attractive enough, and being smart makes them more interesting for longer.

Sorry if that was too philosophical.

In short, I just wanted to say, I don't doubt the people who insist MTW is better anymore. ~:grouphug:

AI makes all the difference in the world.

Edit: Thanks Roark. Ahem...yes...I've only been playing for a couple of weeks (well, this and FF VIII) but I did buy VI and I am using the Byzantines (I've also used the Almohads too) right now mainly. Still in early, but I have graduated up to hard difficulty (what, the computer just flanked me?!? NOO!) and I am loving it. Except for Sicily. I just want to smack Sicily. Bad! Don't stab the big guy in the back! Bad!

And I am also an avowed Byzanto-phile. Have been for a while. So it is fun to use one of my heros (Alexius I) even if I can't use his son or grandson. Mmmm...Katanks...mmmm....

Azi ~:)

I really like reading posts by people who are excited by MTW, mainly because I don't feel like such a freak, or such a latecomer to the game. I've been going hard for 3 months, and I'm (obviously) still learning heaps and enjoying it immensely.

Have you got the expansion, dude? If not, I highly recommend it. Viking Invasion transforms the whole game.

What campaign are you currently running?

Don't feel isolated, Azi, there are a lot of other players, many of them old vets, who have come back to MTW as well, or else gone on to other series. I think that the EB mod will enhance Rome in a lot of ways, but all the tactical AI is hardcoded, and that is what the main gripes are about. It'll be interesting to see if these issues are addressed in the expansion, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Ah yes, it's always good to see someone find their way to the True Path! Glad you're enjoying Medieval, Azi; may your Byzantines crush all who oppose them--especially the Sicilians. ~:cheers:

Welcome to the gang Azi ~:grouphug:

I bought MTW on the day of release and I'm still playing it (currently the Napoleonic mod) and having great fun :charge:

Don't forget to try some of the mods after you've beaten the game a few times, they will really renew the challenge for you.

Welcome to the club, Azi ~:grouphug:

I am known as an old Byzantophile, so if you need any help, don't hesitate :bow: ~D

I'm glad that MTW is getting more and more addicts, because the great mods can be played by others also.....

Also, it's not a waste of time to create a mod for MTW now, because with the release of RTW, people forgot about MTW :help:

Have bought MTW the day of its french release(2 weeks after UK's one). Played a lot, then went to EU2 & other Paradox games.

Last week, was in Birmingham. 2 good news.
1)found a gf - and this should last ~:cool:
2)found Viking - impossible to find it in France

So I'm currently in a full revival. Wales will rule the British Isles :charge:

1) What 's a gf? ~:confused:
2) I ve never seen a game like MTW. 2 years of gaming and still haven't got enough... I also like Warcraft 3, but it is a whole different game. :balloon2:
3) If you make it with the Welsh, let us know your timeline. I ve tried and failed... :embarassed:

gf = girlfriend. I went from Paris to Birmingham to meet a Polish girl. Why be simple when you can be complicated? ~;)

Now it's around 840 and I am finishing the Northumbrians. I've also eaten the beginning nearby neutrals plus the Man Island. I am 4 years from building my first coastal trading post - and I have the fleet for that. Though I have lost my best heir and a cool army due to an unforecasted meeting with some Vikings(damn they're tough ~:eek: ). Ah, and I'm playing hard, not expert(I'm not THAT good). I backstabbed the northumbrians though, as they were not allied & suffered more than myself from a Viking wave. I've lost some alliances then, but Now I have some powerbase. :charge:

Seems u r doin fine! you have your back covered by the sea, and you defeated the most powerfull faction, plus your about to raise some serious cash from trading..

P.S. How did you take those Huscarles out? Man they are mean.....

Watch out for those Vikings El Slapper, they're tough. And the Saxons and Mercians aren't much easier to beat (Huscarles pwn everything non-viking)

Hey Azi,

Yeah, RTW is certainly a beautiful game but there isn't much challenge to it as opposed to MTW. Certainly the combat is much more interesting which is of course the key ingredient in the Total War series.

I remember the first time I got my butt kicked by the AI which showed me clearly that this AI was a different creature than the one made for Rome.

I had my army in a well formed line... spearmen in the front, swordsmen and cavalry in the flanks with archers behind the line for support. The enemy was marching slowly towards me with what seemed to be a smaller army so I wasn't too worried. As they came within firing range of my archers, I got smashed on the side and the rear flank by their infantry streaming out of the woods... their line was marching slowly towards me so that they could get these other troops to slip through the woods and attack me. Panic ensues as my left sword flank is enveloped, my archers are routed and I draw in my right flank swordsmen to support. As this is going on the AI's archers begin to fire volley after volley upon my spearmen so I send my cavalry around their spearmen to stop them. However, my cavalry gets pinned by their cavalry and their spearmen charge into my cavalry and mince them. Needless to say my army soon routed and I received my rude awakening...

That led to my desire to research and develop battlefield techniques and now I give respect to my adversaries and I treat each battle as a strategic puzzle.

Also, a question for the community: Do you think CA intentionally watered things down for Rome to make it an easier game to appeal to a broader fan base?

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Originally Posted by Zarax

Don't forget to try some of the mods after you've beaten the game a few times, they will really renew the challenge for you.

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i second that. and since WesW didn't pimp his mod, allow me to do it for him. for ages now, the only mtw i've played is wes whitaker's Medmod (click the pic in WesW's sig). it really makes the game more fun and challenging. it's currently in the beta phase of version 4, but i still haven't found the time to try that out (still using 3.14). :sad:

i've also heard good things about BKB's supermod and Vikinghorde's XL mod, but i haven't tried them.

Another convert, great. I have say, although I play both I prefer MTW, even though Rome has a much sleeker design and better grathics.

The first battle I played after I saw DensterNYs I just did a quick battle with my Italians against a random French army. I just sat back and let the French come at me. Well, turns out their Gendarmes moved against my open right (left anchored on some woods).

I still won because I saw them coming...but the fact that I actually had to work (it was a tough fight) lead me to the troubles of actually getting the rest of the *@#$ game to work.

I will try some mods soon, and it is great to hear there are so many worthy ones out there. I checked out a post in the Engineers guild to see what to play. But right now, I am happy punishing the Sicilians (and avoiding the Italians) with my Byzantines.

Thanks guys,

Azi

The hell with the AI . If youve only played sp your missing the true greatness of MTW/VI. Its the multiplayer game where it really shines above the rest. 4 on 4 battles can take over an hour with the battle ebbing and flowing in favor of both sides. Thiose are my favorites, the epics as we call them. Its what this game is all about .

Welsh campaign update : I had finished the North's. They had captured leaders & cood runner virtues - and those Carl Mercenaries are really an asset to any army. Then the Mercians attacked me, but their 1/2 peasant armies are good for training. So things were happening well.

And then some vikings attacked me in Beocrite. I repelled the attack, but with losses, the North's reappeared there. 3 full stacks. I'll continue tonight, but this makes me pessimistic about the next part of the campaign. Really a challenge!!!

Go mercians! I ve abandoned my mercian campaign...

i played MTW first and then onto RTW after the patch was released cos of the all the bad reviews from the MTW players. but even though it looked pretty good got sick of all the rebels and all the routing and winning everything so went back to MTW lost my first 2 battles back in MTW havent played RTW since ~:)

I just got MTW after playing RTW a few months. I got the one with VI combined. I am loving it. For my first game I tried the English but wasn't feeling it so I figured I would run a VI as the vikings. The first game I botched enormously. I was getting wopped because I kept trying to fight an ordered old style war with clean set peice battles. Dammit I am a Viking! Not some pansy Roman! :dizzy2:

New Game...

Now to think like a Viking. I want gold, material and to hear the lamentations of the women....so spread my navies out and begin a boat building regime in Denmark (then improve the farms asap) and look to the nice fat Rebel states to the south of England. I organized two major offensives but only kept the kingdom with tradeable goods. I let the second army hit and run up and down the coast at any poorly protected area. I now had 30k in the bank and kept two neighboring kingdoms in the south. All the other factions beat a path to my king asking to kiss his ass.

I am going to have to try the Welsh...that would be tough. None of the destruction bonuses the Vikings get.

The battles I have fought have been a real challenge and fun for it. Troop quality and moral seems to have a real effect as does knowing how to lay a good trap. I have seen the AI do some nice pull back and re-organize tricks that have been both impressive and surprising. The AI also seems very interested in attacking a king that shows up for a battle. To say that I was surprised is an understatement. Ok I admit I will miss that guy who tells the catheginian leader "The enemy general flees! Probably to some new debauchery he has just dreamed up!" ~D

I just got MTW a week ago or so and was instantly hooked. I'm just playing the Quick battles right now until I can get the hang of army command. Bought the Viking Expansion and I am looking forward to that. Then with the Napoleonic Mod and upcoming ACW mod, I think I will stay hooked for a long time. ~:)

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Originally Posted by Ace of Spades

I just got MTW a week ago or so and was instantly hooked. I'm just playing the Quick battles right now until I can get the hang of army command. Bought the Viking Expansion and I am looking forward to that. Then with the Napoleonic Mod and upcoming ACW mod, I think I will stay hooked for a long time. ~:)

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I'm still hooked with MTW, though I'm playing it since 2003!!!

Good to here you have found your way Azi. MTW is just great. I Have been playnig it and mods for a long time now and I havent even tried MP. I am re-installing it without mods cause it sounds fun.

MTW is great, and it's even greater when playing MultiPlayer.

And it's at the peak when you're playing mods like BKB Super Mod(my fav), Xl Mod or MedMod.

I'm coming back to .....Just posted some of the reasons why in the RTW forum. Imagine how excited I am as I've never realy played MTW properly cos my computer was below spec at the time. I had to auto calc. the majority of battles cos there where to many units for it to manage and it just crashed. When RTW was released I bought a comp. to match and have since lost my old coppy of MTW. God I'm so excited !!!!!! Longbows billmen an AI thats actually flanks me, loosing battles, a sense of achievement when I win a battle I could go on all night but I've got to go on amazon and order some thing realy important! Looking forward to posting again in this section of the forum.

I just finished my first Viking era campaign as the Saxons. What a rush.

It was actually a real challenge for my espionage strategy game, as the Saxons are restricted from building decent boats to cross the deep seas between the British Isles and Hordaland/Jutland, so I couldn't hit the Vikings where they lived. I had to start some big rebellions with the aid of my cunnywarren-spawned +2 valour spies.

Huscarles dominate, but I've got a fire in my heart for those nutty Berserkers now, so it'll be a Picts game next.

Finally got exterminated with the Welsh. 4-front war is not winnable in this game - especially as Viking Lands are unreachable. I didn't declare any wars - the AI just saw I was getting too strong & charged me from all directions :charge: . Was fun, but frustrating.

After being gone for nearly a year, I'm coming back to MTW as well. I set up a tactics page in anticipation of RTW kicking MTW's tail tactics-wise. I was stunned to find that, not only are advanced tactics a thing of the past in RTW, but replays as well. *shakes head sadly*

*pops in MTW disk back in for the long haul*

Welcome back to the rebel outpost, we never stopped working on MTW and while most noobs have gone to the fancy graphics/uber micromanagement/useless AI RTW the old egine is reaching its finest hour with many MODS being still in development and some near completion to complement the already excellent classics we have.

Personally, what made me go back to the old ways is the overcomplex modding that needs triple the work for stuff you could do in 20 seconds with MTW.

So I came back and started developing my small project, a mini mod based on faction specialization and improved strategical AI.

If you want something bigger there's the classic BKB, XL and MedMod...

So you enjoy MTW more than the newer RTW, huh? Don't worry, just relax and enjoy it, it's perfectly normal to feel scared and confused... :)

I just have to echo the sentiments made by earlier posters; when you're comfortable with the game, do try out one of the many mods: BKB's SuperMod, XL, MedMod, there's even an ancient mod called Hellenic Total War (though, I do wish the map was bigger and the units more balanced, but, c'est le vie.)

Don't forget to read the MTW guides if you're stuck; I've found them to be a superb resource. To paraphrase another poster, the game's starting difficulty levels have been rendered moot simply because a specific set of opening moves have been developed and perfected for each faction. Of course, that doesn't mean there aren't new things to try.

For instance, start up as the Turks, gather all your troops together and just leave. Start a steppe empire in the area above the Black Sea. Or keep going and boot the Danes out of Scandanavia. Or muscle your way through Egypt and set up shop in North Africa. Conversely, have you ever heard about an English empire based in the steppes? No? Try it out!

Edit:
Zarax's mod, too. I'm sure there's a few others I haven't mentioned, and I apologize to said mod developers in advance.

I accidentally stumbled across MTW- and man, am I glad that I did (unlike my wife). I was searching for a manageable realtime combat game and found the RTW demo. Oh, how cool, I thought. Then: Bummer, my PC can't handle it. Guess I'll have to settle for MTW. Well, after reading some the posts here, I was thankful for an old PC. Now, how many times does THAT happen?

The guides are good. Perhaps a little too good, so I would caution you to not use them until you absolutely need to. Frog's unit guide is good to read for understanding unit strengths/weaknesses, etc. A must read while your game is being shipped to you.

But don't make the mistake of reading the faction guides while waiting like I did. The best fun is selecting a faction and learning its strengths/weaknesses the hard way. Reading the faction guides ruins that fun; therefore I was forced to install a mod earlier than I should have so I could have a greater challenge. In short, don't read the faction guides unless you're really stuck.

I love MTW so much I have two original VI expansion disks, so If one ever gets too damaged in play, I can always use the other. Only the original MTW is for loading the game. I echo the others. MedMod, XL and other mods, extend the game so well.

We don't need an upgrade to MTW, just another mod. Long may it live.

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Originally Posted by TwinMfg

I accidentally stumbled across MTW- and man, am I glad that I did (unlike my wife).

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Do you mean you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but your wife is not so happy about it...
Or you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but not glad you stumbled across your wife? ~D


MTW is fantastic.

:charge:

Most wives hate MTW...

I'm on an involuntary program... 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off...

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Originally Posted by TonkaToys

Do you mean you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but your wife is not so happy about it...
Or you are glad that you stumbled across MTW but not glad you stumbled across your wife? ~D


MTW is fantastic.

:charge:

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:wall: Oh, please, oh please, don't let my wife see this! I'd be sleepin' with the dogs for a year. In case you do see it, allow me to clarify, my lil' cactus flower: I MEANT OPTION #1!!!! :sweetheart: :kiss: :love:

Psst... Dude... Do you think she bought it?

~;)

Man...now I need to get back playing it. But my RPGs do take lots of time...

Azi

Mtw Is 30223060207240711346430876086 Times Better Than Rtw........period!

Looks like men prefer MTW than their wives and girlfriends!!!! ~D

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Originally Posted by PittBull260

Mtw Is 30223060207240711346430876086 Times Better Than Rtw........period!

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man thats a lot better.

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Originally Posted by edyzmedieval

Looks like men prefer MTW than their wives and girlfriends!!!! ~D

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Before RTW came out, I was telling my girlfriend about it, how cool it looks, all the options. I think she was genuinely scared of it. Now I'm back on MTW, which she had already built up a loathing for. ~D Basically, women don't think you should be able to have fun without them, and hate anything that accomplishes that goal.

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Originally Posted by drone

Before RTW came out, I was telling my girlfriend about it, how cool it looks, all the options. I think she was genuinely scared of it. Now I'm back on MTW, which she had already built up a loathing for. ~D Basically, women don't think you should be able to have fun without them, and hate anything that accomplishes that goal.

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But the things we want to do most with them (most of the time)...sometimes they have a headache. Isn't this our equivalent? ~;)

"Sorry honey, these #$@* (insert random annoying faction here)_________ just stabbed me in the back. I need to teach them for their temerity. Go ahead and talk about __________ without me."

Maybe this is why I don't have a girlfriend...hummmm....

Azi

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Originally Posted by TwinMfg

I accidentally stumbled across MTW- and man, am I glad that I did (unlike my wife)...

The guides are good. Perhaps a little too good, so I would caution you to not use them until you absolutely need to... Frog's unit guide is good to read for understanding unit strengths/weaknesses, etc. A must read while your game is being shipped to you.

But don't make the mistake of reading the faction guides while waiting like I did. The best fun is selecting a faction and learning its strengths/weaknesses the hard way. Reading the faction guides ruins that fun; therefore I was forced to install a mod earlier than I should have so I could have a greater challenge. In short, don't read the faction guides unless you're really stuck.

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Two comments... First, I know what you mean about MTW and how your significant other can't understand the attraction and joy of the game. Where else can a man feel the joy of conquest and empire building? In his cubicle or corner office? hehe...

Second, I understand where you're coming from with your suggestion not to read the guides because they are very, very good... I remember playing my first game straight out of the box and getting slaughtered and making all sorts of poor investment and strategic choices... it was kinda fun stumbling around like a bumbling idiot trying to figure things out but that got old kinda fast.

Once I read Frogbeastegg's guide there was no stopping me... and I look at it this way... Think about a king or up and coming prince and the training and schooling involved in making them a worthy monarch. They are schooled in warface, the intrigue of politics and the economics of the nation and anything else that may be needed to rule.

I've only just started playing on Hard, unmodded, in Medieval period, and I still have a really tough time with the economics of Viking Era. I think it'll be a long time before I have to learn how to mod...

Yup, MTW:VI is the best!

In my current game (as Turks, very hard, early, GA), I gave all other factions 500,000 florins, and now, in the year, 1335, I have the super powers Mongols, Byz, and Egyptians on all sides of me (I'm currently in 4th place in GA points).

I've had some truly spectacular battles: the Byzs and I have fought over Nicea numerous times with some massive, bloody battles. The Byzs have 7-8 command-level leaders, and massive troop levels, while I have had to continually hire mercenaries and launch Jihads, in order to keep attacking them.

Like two punch-drunk boxers we fought over Nicea almost non-stop for years... I was determined to kick them out and retain that province.

Finally, the Golden Horde started to advance south towards the Byzs and they finally called off their attacks to deal with the Horde.

I was exhausted... but it was bloody great fun...

And I would also suggest for people not to read the guides (unless you are really stuck). Learning the game, losing, and trying new strategies, is what this game is all about...

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by Pericles

In my current game (as Turks, very hard, early, GA), I gave all other factions 500,000 florins, and now, in the year, 1335, I have the super powers Mongols, Byz, and Egyptians on all sides of me (I'm currently in 4th place in GA points).

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that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king ~D

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Originally Posted by yesdachi

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king ~D

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Does that mean that ransoms are not absolute amounts but dependent on how much the faction has in the bank at the time? Interesting....

Incidentally, I was looking at my last battle logfile today. I was initially puzzled to see figures for "Initial cost of unit", whereby the general's Katank unit was listed as initial cost of 3568, or some such, whilst previously unbattled units showed exactly their proper purchase price.

I eventually twigged that valour accrued by individuals within units from previous battles plus things like armour upgrades caused their Intial cost to be similarly uprated. I guess this is handy knowledge for when I eventually attempt multiplayer (*) but, for now, I'm wondering if it's factored into the ransom value of the units you capture?

* - I need to practice with the purchasing screen for a while so as not to waste the time of other players, who all likely know what they're doing, what to buy, how to upgrade it and so on...would custom battle mode be the best place to practice that?

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Originally Posted by yesdachi

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king ~D

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Yeah, you can get some pretty insane ransoms from kings, princes, and jedi generals. I've been paid as much as 30,000 florins for a single guy before (although most factions can rarely afford such an amount).

Of course, on the flip side, I've had to pay a pretty hefty sum for some of my boys who get captured. One game I where I was playing as the Spanish, I had conquered the Iberian peninsula and the Almohad Caliphate, and had set my sights on establishing an empire around the Mediterranean. Doing this meant destroying the Sicilians (which I was more than happy to do since they're backstabbing bastards anyway ~D ). Leading the invasion was my mediocre crown prince (4 loyalty, 6 piety, 3 dread, 2 stars, and 5 acumen). I had hopes that this war with the Sicilians would either kill him, or make a man out of him. Although I couldn't have known at the time, this turned out to be a grave error on my part.

I took out the Sicilians quickly enough, but then things started to go wrong. First of all, I was excommunicated. This wouldn't have been so bad, however, except for one thing: My 8-influence, 7-star uber-king unexpectedly died (he was only 49) right as my crown prince--who had actually been improving--was leading an attack on the Pope (so as to cancel my excommunication).

Then the worst happened: My crown prince, who was now suddenly the king (although he didn't know it yet), was captured in battle with the Papal armies. Since I had no direct heirs of age yet (only royal uncles and little brothers that were too young), letting him be executed would've plunged my empire into civil war. And I wanted to keep him in any case--he now had 9 influence, 8 piety, 6 dread, 4 stars, and 7 acumen (he picked up the trait that gives +2 to both piety and acumen).

The ransom demanded for him? 55,000 florins. ~:eek: I paid it, but doing so ate up over half my cash reserves.....

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Originally Posted by Martok

The ransom demanded for him? 55,000 florins. ~:eek: I paid it, but doing so ate up over half my cash reserves.....

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That is a pretty huge ransom and it was all because of the Sicilians. I have never had a lasting alliance with them and when ever I reach them in the water they almost always start a fight :pirate: . The rats won’t even roll over in 2 years to save you an excom :disappointed: .

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Originally Posted by yesdachi

that would be some sweet ransom $ if you could catch an AI king ~D

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I'll say that's for sure...

But they are tough to beat on the battlefield.

Those 8 and 9 star generals are worth getting back. One Byz general had only one infantry and 4 Kat units and whupped my butt, even though I had triple the forces available...

It's funny how much fun MTW is compaired with RTW. I tryed a few mounths to give RTW another go, but MTW is just more fun. I don't think im going to play RTW untill BI comes out in the shops, so untill then its MTW time. Im currently playing as the Byz (my fav.)/high XL and it's great fun to rebuild the Byzantine Empire.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yesdachi

That is a pretty huge ransom and it was all because of the Sicilians. I have never had a lasting alliance with them and when ever I reach them in the water they almost always start a fight :pirate: . The rats won’t even roll over in 2 years to save you an excom :disappointed: .

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Yes, I also hate the Sicilians (with the fire of a thousand supernovas). I despise them more than any other faction in the entire game, including the Turks. (No offense to the MTW players of Sicilian and Turkish descent out there; I just don't like dealing with your ancestors from 900 years ago. :bow: ) I usually make a point of destroying them as soon as it's practical to do so. This is when it's nice to play as the Italians or the Pope (I have Medieval installed with the XL mod).

Despite the Sicilians and the Pope, however, I really had no one to blame but myself for letting my Crown Prince get captured like that. Having him engage in that particular battle was admittedly of questionable intelligence to begin with. I was outnumbered approximately 3-to-1, which was risky enough (although I had the better general and higer-quality units). My biggest mistake, however, came during the battle against the Papal army. After gaining the upper hand in the opening stages of the engagement, the tide of battle gradually turned against me as the Pope's reinforcements gradually wore down my men. I eventually realized victory was no longer possible and I gave the order to withdraw, but it was already too late. In what turned out to be one of my most humiliating defeats I've ever suffered playing MTW, the Vatican's forces ran down my crown prince and captured him along with his knights.

And yes, 55,000 florins is a huge ransom--a hefty price to pay for my pride and arrogance. Nice to know this game can still teach me lessons in humility, even after all this time. ~:cool:

Heh, well I guess I'd better tell you my conversion story then...

It all started a year ago, when I bought RTW, hearing that it was a great game. It sure was, I spent about the next 3 months on it continuously. I loved playing as the Roman Legions and fighting the barbarians to the north. Anyway, after I had just started getting familiar with the game, my game broke. Yep, it turns out my mum came in and saw the state of my room. Being the lumbering fool she was, she started sweeping things off of desks and broke one of the RTW CDs!

I was quite upset about that, but because I was nice I didn't tell my mum that she broke it, so I had to save up for a new copy myself. Anyway, while all that was happening, I stumbled across MTW at some electronics shop. Since I love buying old games because they only cost 10$, and I had heard that this game was good, I bought it. I tell you now, this is the single best strategy game I have ever played. I'm serious, the only thing that competes with it is Civilisation III. As it turns out, I found MTW to be better than RTW. There were literally no glitches I could find with this game, while in RTW I was always careful about certain actions. i.e, charging soldiers across bridges, cramming soldiers on top of walls and the fact that pikes were almost invincible from the front annoyed me.

So I started my first campaign as the English, and played it through to a minor victory. I didn't restart at a single point. From the point from which I didn't have a clue what was going on, to where I was very much experienced with this game, and it was the greatest campaign I ever played. Anyway, after that, I experimented a bit, usually doing half a campaign as other factions and in different ages, then restarting, at the same time reading guides and learning how to trade and build.

Then I went in for another full campaign, this time as the Byzantines. I spent several hours previously modding several things to my taste, such as messing around with the power and ammo of archers until I came up with a mod that I was quite satisfied with. I also reduced unit size from huge to large, as it took too long to build units in huge. Then I was ready, this time with a plan. Now I'm about 30% into my game as the Byzantines and enjoying every bit of it.

Playing as them is definately different to the English. It seems much more varied being in between the desert, snow and forests. Byzantine Infantry are great in an army, and I've had many satisfying experiences with horse archers. Naptha Throwers have also proven themselves worthy of being in any decent army, capable of saving my troops in a last stand, and two units once succeeded in routing a large army almost completely on their own. Any unit you direct them towards will be rendered incapable of combat.

Uh, so that's my MTW conversion story. The whole religion thing definitely makes things interesting, and the Pope also mixes things up. I'm also yet to see the AI do something stupid! I have to say it again, MTW is the greatest strategy game I have ever played, and I'm delighted to see such a great community of people who agree with me. ~:)